After a long time I got the opportunity to meet an old comrade at the time of the Circle Conference of BSNLEU, Gujarat Circle held on 3-4 November. He is nobody else other than Comrade A.C.Shah, the first Circle Secretary of BSNLEU as also the first circle Secretary of AITEU Class III (Namboodiri) Gujarat in the 1990s.
After defeating O.P.Gupta and team in the Bhopal All India Conference in 1991, myself and Comrade Moni Bose came to Delhi and started working at Dada Ghosh Bhawan in the first week of November 1991. It was a very difficult period with OP Gupta and his team making all obstacles in the regular functioning of the Union. Dispute was created where there was no dispute with the connivance of the DOT. We had no other way but to form the AITEU Class III (Namboodiri) different from AITEU. Com.Moni Bose, myself and many comrades toured all over India and met leaders and workers to strengthen the union. After BSNL, we formed BSNL Employees Union. Now the BSNLEU is the biggest and only recognised union amongst Non-executives.
During all these period, Comrade A.C.Shah was the strong pillar of the Gujarat Circle Union as its Circle Secretary. His integrity and commitment helped to get more and more workers in the union. BSNLEU became the first union in Gujarat also.
After vacating Circle Secretary post, he continues as the District Secretry of Himmat Nagar SSA.
Meeting him again was a pleasure. During the Conference I honoured him and put a shawl on his shoulders as a token of respect and honour of the senior comrade.
He greatly appreciated my gesture.
Comrade Shah, we will meet again!